Windows 7 Bitlocker denying write access to usb thumb drive

jaf2000 · Mar 21, 2012

I have Windows 7 installed and up until recently I could read and write files from my hard disk to my usb thumb drive. Now after some updates were downloaded and applied (automatically so I am not sure what was installed), when I insert my drive into the usb slot, the Bitlocker Drive Encryption window pops up and I have two choices. Encrypt this drive to allow write access or don't encrypt this drive but it will be read only. I checked Control Panel -> Bitlocker and it says its off my for C drive and my usb thumb drive. So i'm not sure why its wanting to encrypt it. How do I get rid of this Bitlocker and gain write access to my usb drive?

jaf2000 · Mar 31, 2012

RESOLVED!!!!!!

I went to my system restore points and only saw one there from 3/30. That was strange, as it should have been capturing them frequently.

Anyway, I figured since two of my usb drives showed up as write protected on the windows 7 system and they show up fine on windows XP and windows 2008, I figured it had to be something that changed recently as you suggested. After pouring over the group policy editor (gpedit.msc) and not finding anything enabled, I figured something in the registry must have changed.

So I hunted in the current control set and found a setting RDVDenyWriteAccess enabled.

After hunting on the internet, I found this.
Link Removed - Invalid URL

These two settings are mentioned on...

jaf2000 · Mar 31, 2012

RESOLVED!!!!!!

I went to my system restore points and only saw one there from 3/30. That was strange, as it should have been capturing them frequently.

Anyway, I figured since two of my usb drives showed up as write protected on the windows 7 system and they show up fine on windows XP and windows 2008, I figured it had to be something that changed recently as you suggested. After pouring over the group policy editor (gpedit.msc) and not finding anything enabled, I figured something in the registry must have changed.

So I hunted in the current control set and found a setting RDVDenyWriteAccess enabled.

After hunting on the internet, I found this.
Link Removed - Invalid URL

These two settings are mentioned on that site.
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FVE!RDVDenyWriteAccess
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\FVE!RDVDenyCrossOrg

The RDVDenyWriteAccess was set to 1, but the RDVDenyCrossOrg was set to 0. After disabling RDVDenyWriteAccess, I pulled out my usb drive and re-inserted it. And I could write to it again!!!

I am so relieved. Thanks all for your help and suggestions! It is appreciated!

catilley1092 · Apr 1, 2012

Glad that you got that solved. I had a hunch that System Restore would be your last possible option. Always, from now on, make sure that your flash drive (or any external drive) is not plugged in while updating.

Another thing, while we're here. Do you backup your computer? If not, now's the time to begin to do so. Because sometimes, System Restore doesn't give us the desired results. Some updates wipes all of the restore points out (like SP1 did). I've had it to work for me & had it not to work for me.

A backup image, taken when everything's in good working order, is the safest bet that you'll have.

Best of Luck,
Cat

RadhaKrishna Balla · Jul 16, 2014

Thanks much "jaf2000".
Your suggestion works like a charm.. thanks for your persistence in finding the solution, it helps others like me.
u r da man!

mkztg · Apr 23, 2015

I was having the same issue, this solution didn't work for me but I did find one that did. I wanted to share that in case others also ran into the same problem.

Run the gpedit.msc and navigate to:

Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | BitLocker Drive Encryption | Removable Data Drives |

My system had the setting for "Deny write access to removable drives not protected by BitLocker" set to Enable. Change to disable. That will also stop the system from asking to encrypt the drive every time you plug it in too.

Hopefully this helps someone.

-mkztg

YashS · Jun 8, 2015

Hi guys,

Am having the same issue - its a company policy thing but they have not provided us with drives to backup data and files so have taken to using my own personal drive.
Since its personal - I don't want bitlocker on my drive

tried mkztg route - to no avail.
Have also tried the solution given by jafar - still not working
is there any executable that anyone has that can do this for me?

Windows 7 Bitlocker denying write access to usb thumb drive

jaf2000

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